Bath cart



Jun 8. 1963 R. c. CHRISTENSEN ETAL 3,093,835

BATH CART Filed May 2, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 F/ G. 4 INVENTORS [1 o 552T (HR/S TEA 5:4!

June 1963 R. c. CHRISTENSEN ETAL 3, 6

PM KM wt/M Unite ttes 3,893,836 Patented .lune 18, 1.963

3,093,836 BATH CART Robert C. Christensen, Erie, George P. Bernent, Harborcreek Township, Erie County, and Arthur 0. Broochrnan, Fairview, Pan, assigncrs to GAR Hospital Equipment, lino, Erie, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed May 2, 1960, Ser. No. 25,958 1 Claim. (Cl. --60) This invention relates to invalid supports and beds and, more particularly, to bath carts for use in bathing patients in hospitals and the like.

In hospitals and the like, a problem exists in bathing patients who are unable to go to a bathroom or suitable bathtub. It is difficult to bathe a patient on an ordinary bed because of the problems of handling the patient and of preventing the water from wetting the bed.

It is, accordingly, an object of the present invention to provide an improved bath cart which will overcome the disadvantages of prior devices.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for supporting a patient during a bathing process.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved support for a patient in a hospital or the like.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a bath cart which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and simple and efficient to use.

With the above and other objects in view, the present invention consists of the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the form, size, proportions, and

minor details of construction Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a bath cart according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2 but with the cushioning pads added;

FIG. 4 is an end view of the device shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3;

FIG. 5 is a top view of the frame of the cart;

FIG. 6 is a view showing the legs folded;

FIG. 7 is an end view of the frame; and

FIG. 8 is a top view of the pad for use on the device.

Now with more particular reference to the drawings, a bath cart 10 is shown made up of a frame 11 and a top 12. The top 12 is supported on the frame 11 and may simply sit on the frame 11 or it could be attached thereto to hold it rigidly in position thereon.

The frame 1 1 is shown made of seamless tubing with side tubes 14, end tubes 15, and intermediate tubes =16, all welded together at their points of juncture.

Legs 18 are hinged to the end tubes 15 by hinges 1'7 and are thereby swingably connected thereto. The legs 18 are connected together by means of cross members 19 which are attached to each other by a brace 29 which is removably attached at its ends to the cross members 19 by means of bolts 21 or the like. The legs 18 and the brace are made of channel material and the brace 20 extends between the legs of the cross members or channels 19.

The top '12 is shown formed of a single sheet of metal. It could be formed from fiberglass. It has intermediate fiat support portions 22 and 23 which incline toward the center of the top 12 and are connected together by a U-shaped intermediate trough portion 24- which extends below the level of the support portions 22 and 23. An outer peripheral trough 25 extends around the outside of the top 12. The outer side of the trough 25 is formed by the metal turned upwardly and then bent back on itself to form a neat, downwardly opening, U-shaped outer peripheral border 26 for the top 12. The U-shaped border 26 may receive the tubes 14 and 15 of the frame 11.

Pads 51% made of foam rubber or other suitable padding material are supported on top of the support members 2.2 and 23. The pads 50 have tabs 2'7 thereon which attach to snap fasteners 28 on the sides of the support members 22 and 23 and snap fasteners 29 on the ends attached to snap fasteners on the ends of the support members 22. and 23.

The top 12 rests on the support shown in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7 with the side tubes '14 resting in the U-shaped border 26 and the transverse tubes 15 and 16 running under the cover.

The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of modification within a range of equivalents without departing from the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is commensurate with the appended claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

A bed comprising a frame, said frame comprising side members and end members integrally connected together to define a generally rectangular enclosure, a support means for said frame, a top, said top being made of an integral unitary plate like member having two generally fiat planar support portions for supporting pads, said support portions being integrally connected together by a portion defining an intermediate trough and inclined toward each other, said intermediate trough having vertical side walls and a bottom therebetween formed by said plate like member, the material of said top around the outer edges thereof being bent downwardly, then outwardly, then upwardly and defining an outer trough around said top communicating with said intermediate trough, said material of said top around said outer trough being bent outwardly and then downwardly, forming a downwardly facing channel around the entire periphery of said top, said downwardly facing channel receiving said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 847,758 Frye Mar. 19, 1907 859,206 Dayhotf July 9, 1907 1,121,673 Sisto Dec. 22, 1914 1,451,285 Ward Apr. 10, 1923 1,822,206 Ferguson Sept. 8, 1931 2,079,739 Houseweller May 11, 1937 2,262,767 Jeter Nov. 18, 1941 2,576,116 Hoffman Nov. 27, 1951 2,592,839 Wessig Apr. 15, 1952 2,678,085 De Minno May 11, 1954 2,899,694 Horowitz Aug. 18, 1959 

